Verona Car Show Coming in August

Jeff Green | Jul 13, 2022

“It's coming up quickly this year,” said John Nizman, the owner of Last Chance Auto Restore in Yarker and convener of the Verona Car Show, which is set for Sunday, August 7 this year.

Nisman attributes the crunch to the details involved in putting together the show, and the early date for August long weekend, for the time crunch he is feeling. There are a lot of moving parts to the Car Show, which he, and the Verona Lions Club, are hoping will attract the kinds of crowds that it did before it was shuttered in 2020 and returned under COVID restrictions in 2021.

“We had about 309 classic cars last year and are hoping for 350 this year,” he said.

Because Last Chance Auto Restore, which John runs with his wife and partner Julie, services classic cars, it is relatively easy to attract classic car owners to come out and meet the public, talk about their passion, and compete for trophies.

All of the rest of what makes the Verona Car Show a success, is accomplished by working closely with the Verona Lions, local sponsors and volunteers. The Lions provide the location, the canteen, logistical support and volunteer coordination. They also receive all of the proceeds, which they donate to local causes. Last year, there was $16,000 to give out, and the goal this year is to bring attendance back to 3000 or more, from 1800 last year, and to increase the amount of money that the car show raises.

One of the ways to do that is to broaden the show. This year, the Kids Fun Zone will include a large bouncy castle, rides on the Verona Pace Car, and a series of games being put on by the Harrowsmith S&A Club. All for reasonably priced tickets that will be on sale, thanks to support from Revell Ford Lincoln.

The Trevor Walsh Group will be performing at one of the baseball diamonds on the Lions site this year, for the second time, and visitors are invited to bring lawn chairs. There will also be a beer tent this year, and Harrowsmith Brewery is supplying the beer and making sure the tent runs safely and smoothly.

And then there is the dunk tank. Organisers have secured a 330 gallon tank. Local celebrities, including political candidates, are being invited to come forward to be dunked in all that water, and challenges are being accepted. $100 has already been put up to see John McDougall face a possible dunking, and the mayoralty candidates are expected as well.

As well, this year Ryan Harriman of South Frontenac Rentals will be bringing a few of his personal collection of vintage military vehicles for the public to see up close.

The Verona Lions are running the canteen, and will have their famous McLion breakfast sandwiches ready to go in the morning, followed by food all day.

Admission to the car show is free (donations are accepted) and there are nominal charges for Kids Zone, dunk tank, raffles, and other events. The collection of classic cars, which are valued at over $8 million, are the main draw but all the other events are family oriented.

“We make the car show as family oriented as possible,” said Nisman. “We also encourage groups to volunteer, and that is one of the ways the Lions determine how to pay out the proceeds, through need and support for the car show.”

For information about the car show or to volunteer as an individual or group, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Editors note - The first sentence in this article was corrected from the printed version - the day if the week was incorrect.)